1. Chapter 6
Medical Terminology

2. Medical Terminology
Section 1

3. Objectives
Identify basic medical abbreviations selected from a standard list
Define prefixes, suffixes, and root words selected from a list of words
Spell and pronounce medical terms correctly

4. Who can explain what this prescription means? (page 120)
Why is it difficult for the average person to interpret this?

5. Using Medical Abbreviations
Shortened forms for convenience
Usually just letters
Health care workers are expected to recognize most common abbreviations
Agencies have their approved lists of abbreviations—if not on list, do not use

6. Common examples AM – which means morning
PM – which means after noon or evening

7. Use the textbook to interpret the following:
BR c BRP
FFl qh
VS qid
NPO 8 PM
To LAB for CBC, BUN, and FBS

8. Sample abbreviations in textbook
Contain common abbreviations in use
Different abbreviations may be used in different facilities
Health care workers are responsible for learning the meaning of the abbreviations used that his/her facility

9. Prohibited abbreviations and symbols
IU is the abbreviation for international unit but can be mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number 10.
Simply write out international unit

10. The “Do-Not-Use” List:
qd, qod, qid are abbreviations for every day, every other day, and four times a day.
Can be interchanged if written poorly
Every-other-day order could be done four times in one day
Write daily, every other day, or four times a day

11. The “Do-Not-Use” List:cc
Abbreviation for cubic centimeter
Can be read as u or units if written poorly
Write millimeter or mL clearly because 1 cubic centimeter equals 1 millimeter

12. The “Do-Not-Use” List:@
Symbol for at
Mistaken for the number 2 if written poorly
Write at

13. Periods in abbreviation
Growing trend towards eliminating periods
List in book does not show periods
You may work in an agency that does use them
Follow policy at your agency

14. Interpreting Word Parts
Section 2
Interpreting Word Parts

15. 6:2 Interpreting Word Parts
Impossible to memorize all the medical words individually, so determine meaning of words by breaking it into parts
These word parts are used over and over in different combinations
If the word parts are known, then the word can be broken down and interpreted
(continues)

16. Interpreting Word Parts (continued)
Prefix: syllable or word placed at the beginning of a word; usually serves to further define the word root
Suffix: syllable or word placed at the end of the word; usually describes what is happening to the word root
(continues)

17. Examples Suffix it is means “inflammation of”
Tonsillitis means “an inflammation of the tonsils”
Appendicitis means “inflammation of the appendix”
Meaning of the suffix is usually placed first when the word is defined.

18. Root Words
Main words or parts to which prefixes and suffixes can be added
Appendix is a root word
Add prefix pseudo and suffix itis to get the word pseudoappendicitis which means “false inflammation of the appendix”

19. Root Words Prefix usually serves to further define the root word
Suffix usually describes what is happening to the root word

20. Vowels with Root Words
When prefixes, suffixes, and/or root words are joined, vowels are frequently added:
Common examples include: a,e,i,ia,io,o, and u.
In the textbook (pages ), they are in parenthesis
Vowels are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel

21. Example Encephal (o) means brain
combined with it is meaning “inflammation of” , vowel is not used for encephalitis
Combined with gram meaning “tracing or record”, vowel o is added for encephalogram

22. Example Hepat(o) means “liver”
Combine with itis, vowel is not used for hepatitis
Combine with megaly meaning “enlarged”, vowel o is added for the hepatomegaly

23. Interpret the following terms
Adenoma
Otoscope
Bradycardia
Macrocythema
Erthrocytolysis

24. Textbook page 129 prefixes, suffices, and root words are shown
Pick one term and create at least 15 possible terms using the list in the book

25. Summary
Health care workers have a unique set of abbreviations and words to communicate medical information
By learning basic word parts, health care workers may be able to interpret the meaning of a word even if they have never seen it before
(continues)

26. Summary (continued)
It is also important to learn correct spellings for word parts so medical terms will be interpreted properly by others

27. Application
Use the list of abbreviations to create three (3) sets of orders or directions
Write examples on your paper
Then given your directions to another student and ask them to interpret your example

28. Application Use the list of word parts to create 5 medical terms.
Write your example on a piece of paper
Give to another student and ask them to interpret your terms

29. Abbreviate the following examples
Give 20 milliequivalents of potassium chloride four times a day before meals
Temperature, pulse, and respiration four times a day every six hours
Do a barium enema, intravenous pyelogram, gallbladder, and gastrointestinal X-rays
Do bloodwork including a complete blood count, blood urea nitrogen, differential count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate

30. Determine the correct medical term for each:
Inflammation of the stomach and intestine
Instrument for examining the eye
Condition of stones in the gallbladder
Surgical removal of the uterus